Nazool land

GS Paper II- Panchayats & Local Bodies

Context:
Violence erupted in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani district after the administration conducted a demolition drive at the site of a mosque and madrasa, allegedly on Nazool land, killing five and injuring many more.

What is Nazool land?
Nazool land, owned by the government, is typically not directly managed as state property.
Instead, it is often leased to various entities for fixed periods, typically ranging from 15 to 99 years.
Upon expiration of the lease term, individuals can request lease renewal by submitting a written application to the Revenue Department of the local development authority.
The government holds the discretion to either renew the lease or reclaim the Nazool land.
Across many major cities in India, Nazool land has been allocated to diverse entities for a multitude of purposes.

How did Nazool land emerge?
During the British colonial era, kings and kingdoms that resisted British rule often engaged in revolts against the British, resulting in numerous battles with the British Army.
Following the defeat of these kings in battle, the British typically confiscated their land.
After India gained independence, the British relinquished control of these lands.
However, due to inadequate documentation from the kings and royals to prove prior ownership, these lands were categorized as Nazool land, falling under the ownership of the respective state governments.

Government use of Nazool land:
Nazool land is typically utilized by the government for public endeavours such as constructing schools, hospitals, Gram Panchayat buildings, and similar purposes.
Additionally, numerous cities across India have witnessed extensive parcels of Nazool land being allocated for housing societies, often under lease agreements.

How is Nazool land governed?
While several states have brought in government orders for framing rules for Nazool land, The Nazool Lands (Transfer) Rules, 1956 is the law mostly used for Nazool land adjudication.

Is the Halwani land registered as Nazool land?
The Haldwani district administration states that the two structures are on Nagar Nigam's Nazool land.
A demolition drive aims to ease traffic congestion, ongoing for 15-20 days.
A notice on January 30 mandated the removal of encroachments within three days or the submission of ownership documents.
Locals visited on February 3, seeking time to appeal to the High Court, agreeing to comply with its decision.
However, Shakeel Ahmad, Ward Number 31 Councillor, claims locals requested the administration to await the next High Court hearing on February 14.

Climate tipping points

GS Paper III- Environment pollution and conservation

Context:
There is no dearth of reports highlighting the consequences of climate change, including droughts, water scarcity, severe wildfires, rising sea levels, etc.

Climate tipping points:-
Climate tipping points represent critical thresholds in natural systems that, once surpassed, can lead to irreversible and catastrophic consequences for the planet.
These changes are driven by self-perpetuating feedback loops, which can persist even if the initial driving force diminishes.
Breaching one tipping point can increase the likelihood of crossing others, setting off a chain reaction with potentially disastrous outcomes.
For instance, unchecked global warming may lead to irreversible ice melt from the Greenland ice sheet, affecting the ocean's circulation patterns like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
Disruption in the AMOC could impact South America's monsoon system, potentially leading to more frequent droughts in the Amazon rainforest.

Tipping points:
Over the years, researchers have identified at least 15 tipping points, each correlated with different levels of temperature rise.
Tipping points such as:-

• The disintegration of the Greenland ice sheet
• A spontaneous reduction in Amazon forest cover
• Melting of glaciers, or
• Softening of the permanently frozen grounds in the polar regions that have large amounts of carbon trapped in them.